with racers returning in solid numbers. Forty cars each in Top Eliminator and Modified are now the norm, with a little less in the Street class. The track also offers competition in Jr. Dragster and Motorcycle, and also hosts the Teen Racer class. A total of eight IHRA-sanctioned bracket races are on the schedule this season.
Rebuilding the base bracket program was an important goal for 2026, as was bringing back the Thursday night test-and-tune program, which was practically gone at the end of last year.“ We advertised it heavily, and the Lord blessed!” says Ellis-Rudisill, adding,“ We’ ve had some amazing Thursday night crowds this year.”
The fan-favorite Classic Gear Jammers is another attraction that’ s been coming to Wilkesboro for many years. The group will make two showings at Wilkesboro this year, most recently on July 11, with another event slated for October 10. The 2026 race season also marked the return of the
DIALED IN
Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stocks to Wilkesboro, which is the home track of this organization.
Index racing is also expanding this year at Wilkesboro.“ Initially, there were four classes, but then our bracket racers began showing interest in the format and requested specific indexes, which grew the amount of classes being offered,” says Ellis-Rudisill. A total of four index events are on the schedule this year, and will be contested on a lightly-prepped track.
One of the most unique new attractions for 2026 is the addition of a weekly yard sale that’ s held at the track each Saturday, weather permitting.“ We’ ve been averaging 14-15 vendors, and there’ s always a steady stream of traffic coming to the yard sale,” says Ellis-Rudisill.“ It cost $ 10 to rent a space, and that’ s money that goes right back into the track.”
Wilkesboro Motorsports Park has become a multi-purpose venue in recent years. It even includes a highly-entertaining dirt oval, where lawnmowers compete twice monthly. A traveling series called the Belt Burners visits Wilkesboro on two Saturdays per month, featuring multiple classes that range from highly modified to completely stock mowers, across all age groups and levels of experience. The lawnmower track features its own set of bleachers, an announcer’ s booth, and pit area. Perhaps the best aspect of all is that the Belt Burners compete on the same night as the dragstrip from March to October, offering race fans the opportunity to experience both forms of racing in one action-packed evening.
“ The weather has been pretty good to us so far this year, and we hope to continue racing on into November,” says Ellis-Rudisill.
Wilkesboro Motorsports Park relies on social media platforms such as Facebook to announce schedule changes and updates, and currently has events scheduled to November 21, 2026. DI
Wilkesboro Motorsports Park staff L to R: Jr. Hodges, Randy Berrian, Ryan Hodges, Roberta Greene, Joe Greene, Deana Coleman, Gena Ellis-Rudisill, Phil Halbedel
78 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 202